Want to do the best work of your life? With 24 million customers in 7 countries, make your mark at Europe's leading media and entertainment brand. A workplace where you can proudly be yourself; our people make Sky a truly exciting and inclusive place to work.This is a great opportunity for an Intellectual Property Lawyer as a Senior Legal Counsel within the UK Litigation, Anti-Piracy and Intellectual Property team of Sky's in house Legal Department, to support across all business areas.As a team, we pursue the highest standards and demonstrate commitment, integrity, and judgement. We exist to add real value by sustainably providing the highest quality business-focussed legal expertise that keeps Sky competitive. Through our work we help to bring better content and innovation to all of our customers, better connecting them to more of what they love. Our vision is to create the Legal team of the future, together - operating at the heart of Sky, famous for adding value.We are responsible for the protection and management of all SKY and non-Sky trademarks and brands worldwide. We protect Sky's brands in all courts, and recent cases have included hearings in the CJEU, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal, as well as activity in IP registries around the world. This role requires close collaboration with legal and business colleagues in our core markets and there will be potential for some travel. We are also responsible for the Sky's patent and designs portfolios, as well as providing subject matter expertise on all intellectual property matters. Whilst the role will report into Head Counsel of the UK Litigation, Anti-Piracy and IP team based in the UK, we are open to the candidate being physically based in either our London, Milan, or Munich offices.What you'll do:
- Provide expert analysis, strategic advice, leadership, and business partnering to internal clients and stakeholders (the business or other members of the legal team, including at senior e.g. executive levels) on potential IP risks, opportunities, and disputes with third parties and propose creative solutions.
- Advise on the use of Sky's brands and assist with new brand risk assessment (trademark clearance).
- Lead on complex trademark, opposition, revocation and invalidity actions by third parties against Sky and non-Sky marks, and by Sky against third party marks globally.
- Provide strategic input for the monitoring and management of our trademark portfolio management and development, including applications, oppositions, specification objections, renewals worldwide.
- Manage Sky's patent and design portfolios including innovation capture and managing external lawyers and attorneys to prepare and prosecute patent and design applications.
- Lead on the preparation and negotiation of IP licences and IP contract terms and impacts for wider commercial and corporate deals.
- Lead on IP matters which have escalated to litigation or pre-action stage and coordinate with business/legal stakeholders.
- Build effective relationships with legal colleagues and the wider Sky businesses (including Sky Group and Comcast/NBCU).
- 5+ years PQE or equivalent experience within a highly regarded law firm or equivalent in-house
- UK/German or Italian law experience in relevant areas
- Extensive trademark and passing off experience
- Significant experience in IP registry office actions in multiple territories
- Extensive dispute resolution/litigation experience
- Brand licensing and licensee management experience
- Ability to think critically and take a strategic approach e.g. to protect and grow Sky's IP portfolio
- Great team player, with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build rapport and establish trust and business partnering at all including senior levels
- Top quality drafting skills and analytical mindset
- Sky Q, for the TV you love all in one place
- A generous pension package
- Private healthcare
- Discounted mobile and broadband
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